Unless you were hiding out in a bunker in the middle of the desert from 2008 to 2013, you know that Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul had explosive chemistry as DIY drug lords in Breaking Bad. The duo had such an intense bond on the show that they’ve been inseparable ever since. The whole reason they formed the spirits company Dos Hombres in 2019 is because they missed each other, Cranston tells Esquire. Now, they go to Mexico together at least once a year.
“We go see the agave growth, listen to [the production team’s] ideas and concerns, and dream about the future,” says Paul.
It all started because Paul had been a huge fan of mezcal for decades, and he introduced Cranston to it. Now they’re both agave obsessives. After their mezcal became a hit, making a tequila seemed like a natural progression. Just like their intentional friendship, they devoted the same level of thoughtfulness and dedication to develop their new blanco and reposado tequilas.
Cranston and Paul are just as serious about cooking up quality agave spirits as their characters were about meth in Breaking Bad. They teamed up with Tequilera TAP Distillery and maestro tequilero Julio Cova to formulate the perfect tequila recipe. They use spring water, no additives, and no flavouring to ensure the purest tasting spirit.
Outside of enjoying delicious tequila together, the two still have hope of reuniting on screen together one day. They’re just waiting for the perfect project. Paul has been busy acting as super villain Powerplex on hit animated show Invincible and as the lead in the adventure video game Dispatch. Cranston’s been flexing his comedy muscles again as Griffin Mill in Emmy award winning The Studio and reprising his role as Hal on Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair. Below, find out how the two keep their friendship going, which one of the Malcolm sons Cranston thinks that Paul is most like, and how Paul was almost cast on that very sitcom.
(This interview has been edited for clarity.)
ESQUIRE: Why did you guys decide to come out with a tequila now?
AARON PAUL: We were always open to expanding the operation. You know, we started with mezcal, because selfishly, it's been my favourite spirit for 20 years, so that's what I pitched to Bryan. I reintroduced him to the world of Mezcal, and he fell in love with it, and we are a massive fan of agave spirits as a whole, so it felt like a natural progression. We found Julio Cova, who came out of retirement after making tequila for 40 years, to make this tequila with us.
BRYAN CRANSTON: We just expanded our ambition, and this was kind of a no brainer for us, despite knowing there's a lot more competition in the tequila space. But we feel we have a really superior brand. There is no additives and no flavouring. It’s just volcanic spring water and cooked agave, and that’s it. We’re never going to dilute it with anything else. We’re both passionate about it, and hope that people give it a shot.
What’s it like working together on Dos Hombres?
AP: This is such a labour of love. Bryan and I have never taken a salary on this endeavour. We want to bring something out into the world that we both can truly get behind. We went back to the drawing board six or seven times to get the perfect tequila. We were so hands on during the process. We know any true tequila connoisseur, they’re going to taste how intentional we were. Typically, we go to Mexico at least once a year. We go see the agave growth, listen to production’s ideas and concerns, and kind of dream about the future. It’s so fun. It’s such a blessing.
What was your first times drinking tequila like, do you remember that experience?
AP: I do! I think I was in my early 20s. It was in a shot, and I hated it. It was terrible tequila. I did the classic grimace after, and I wanted to throw it up. But, I didn't even have liquor until I was 22 or 23. But I think it was just through a shot, and it was very bad tequila.
What words of encouragement do you have for people who are nervous to drink tequila?
AP: If you're going to lean in, don't do what I did. It was important to us that our tequila stands on its own. I recommend you sip it over a large ice cube or have it in a refreshing cocktail. Don't go too crazy. Go slowly.
BC: I would say that it's not the spirit that's crazy. It's the people. So, use your judgement.
What are both of your favourite margaritas?
BC: I just made a spicy margarita that I think was pretty damn tasty.
AP: Hey, BC, you took your time on that thing. A lot of blood sweat and tears went into that cocktail, and it was incredible. The first time I was introduced to mezcal was over 20 years ago in a spicy mezcal margarita. It was phenomenal.
You’re spicy boys!
BC: Yeah, a little bit.
AP: We’re a little spicy.
BC: Here’s the secret. Any kind of spice or herbs should enhance the spirit. It shouldn’t overpower the drink. I need to be able to taste the spirit still. It should be a suggestion. It should be very subtle. So when I'm making spicy margaritas, you're not like, Wow, that's spicy! No, no, no. It's should be like, Ooh, what is that, there's a little sparkle to it.
You have such a huge fanbase that support your friendship, how does that make you feel?
AP: It warms my heart. With BC and I, it’s just how we’ve always been with each other. I've been such a big fan of his for so long, so when I jumped onto the show, Breaking Bad, I was a little nervous and super excited. I was feeling all the things. But, he really showed me that being number one on a call sheet means there’s a responsibility there. You really set the tone of the vibe of the experience that the cast and crew is going to have. It starts at the top, and he welcomed everybody with such open arms.
He took things seriously, but he was having the best time doing it. He cracked jokes when it was appropriate, sometimes when it wasn't appropriate. Him and I, it's never been a forced situation. I feel so lucky to have this friendship. The fact that it’s a little bit in the spotlight, even post Breaking Bad, us going into business together. It's amazing that people are rooting us on. It's just genuine.
BC: It's few and far between when you meet someone who's going to be a dear friend for life. And when you do, you have to recognise how special that is and rare it is and nurture it and enjoy that company, and that's what's happened here. We're both richer for the relationship, and our wives are friends. I’ve come to know his extension of friends. It's been a lovely run. And we're going to keep going as long as we can.
Bryan, which Malcolm in the Middle child do you think Aaron is most like?
BC: I love that question. I would say offhand, Aaron, you're probably a combination of my oldest and youngest. There's some clever, mischievousness of Francis, my oldest. And some very clever, very wise and the significant vulnerability in my youngest Dewey. Aaron always presents that combination of being smart and yet able to be vulnerable. That's really an important thing, not just as an actor, but as a dad and as a husband. To be present and empathise and feel what your kids are going through or what your wife is going through and be able to respond to it, that has all the hallmarks of a long, happy life.
Aaron, do you agree with that?
AP: Yeah, that's such a high compliment. I'm a massive fan of that show and so excited about the reboot. What a dream. Just for any fan out there. And what a dream for them to be able to put on those characters’ skins again. You know what I mean? Like, they didn't really think they were ever going to sort of do again. I think I totally agree with that. I love that. I remember reading for the pilot of Malcolm in the Middle. I remember getting the sides. My friends were auditioning for it. But for some reason, the casting just did not want to see me, but I read the sides. I was like Oh my God, this is so funny. I read the pilot. I was like, please, I beg you, let me audition. But they never saw me.
What do you think you guys could do next together, maybe a buddy cop film, a rom com, a horror movie, a play?
AP: I would love to work with Bryan in any sort of capacity. I would love to act with him again. I think doing stage with him would be a dream. We just work so well together. I have this fear of stage. I've just been trying to find the right thing, but if I could have him hold my hand through the process that would be incredible, you know, what a dream, but it's all about finding the right thing.
BC: I had my fill of you for eight years. [Laughs] The reason that we formed Dos Hombres was because we missed each other. We wanted to see each other again. But we also knew at that moment, it was too early to do anything together on stage or on film, because the characters on Breaking Bad were so fresh. We had had to let them go before we were able to work together again. But now the time is right. We have to find the right material, but I'm always open to doing something together again.
